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Time of India
29-04-2025
- Science
- Time of India
State govt plans to revive Vedic-era Dhristavati River
Jaipur: Officials of water resources department (WRD) said Tuesday that the state govt is carrying out a study on how to revive Dhristavati River , a paleo channel in the state that is assumed to be part of the Vedic-era Saraswati River system . A team from Haryana Sarasvati Heritage Development Board (HSHDB) is in Jaipur to discuss this project. Confirming this, Bhuvan Bhasker, chief engineer of WRD, said, "We are sure that there exists a paleo channel known as Dhristavati River. But we cannot officially confirm whether it was part of the Vedic Saraswati River system. We are carrying out a study to see if we can revive the channel." WRD officials are relying on some research works of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Central Ground Water Department, and IIT BHU to study the mythical Saraswati River basin. "The govt of Rajasthan has signed an MoU with the City of Aarhus in Denmark to rejuvenate rivers in the state. The City of Aarhus has implemented a few projects related to paleo channels. We will take advice from their engineers who worked on those projects," said Bhasker. HSHDB vice-chairman Dhuman Singh Kirmach stated that the Haryana board has enabled water flow along nearly 400 km of the Saraswati riverbed during the monsoon season, completing the first phase of Saraswati River rejuvenation project. The rejuvenation was done based on a map drafted by ISRO of paleo channels of Saraswati River, he said. "During the flood of 2023, when we opened the gates of Sirsa Barrage, the water overflowed in the same direction as mentioned on the ISRO map. So, we approached the Rajasthan govt to link the Sirsa Head of the barrage with the Luni River," Krimach said.
New Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Rajasthan, Haryana to gain from diversion of Indus waters as plan to revive Saraswati River gets boost
JAIPUR: Following India's suspension of the Indus Water Treaty after the Pahalgam incident, water from the Sindhu, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers, currently flowing into Pakistan, may soon be redirected to benefit northern states like Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab. As part of this plan, efforts to revive the long-extinct Saraswati River in Rajasthan will also be expedited. In a significant development, Rajasthan and Haryana officials met scientists in Jaipur on Monday to discuss reviving the Saraswati river. A team from Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Government of Denmark will map the river's ancient paleo channel to trace and restore its original flow. Once the flow route is identified, encroachments and other obstructions along the riverbed will be cleared. The Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur, and IIT-BHU have also agreed to support the initiative. The meeting, held at the Birla Institute of Scientific Research in Jaipur, was organised by the Haryana Saraswati Heritage Development Board. Rajasthan Water Resources Minister Suresh Singh Rawat and HSHDB Vice President Dhuman Singh led detailed discussions on the project's roadmap. It was decided that Rajasthan would set up a dedicated social cell to create awareness and accelerate progress on the revival efforts. Speaking on the occasion, HSHDB vice-chairman Dhuman Singh said, 'The Saraswati river will become a lifeline for both Haryana and Rajasthan. Together, we will trace its flow and work towards its revival.' Minister Rawat emphasised Rajasthan's proactive stance on inter-state water issues. 'The state government has already taken the initiative to revive the Saraswati river. Representatives from the Danish Embassy have requested the involvement of both Central and State Ground Water Departments to strengthen this important collaboration,' he said. Notably, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Water Resources Department and the Danish Embassy during the Rajasthan Investment Summit held a few months ago. Denmark has pledged its support for the scientific revival of Saraswati's paleo channels and has called for deeper involvement of relevant groundwater authorities.
